RECENT APPOINTMENTS

RPA Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Aaron J. Hart as the new Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Houston–Clear Lake. Dr. Hart currently serves as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Prior to joining UNC Charlotte, Dr. Hart worked for six years at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, ultimately as the Associate Dean of Students. Dr. Hart has also held appointments with American Campus Communities at Prairie View A&M University, California State University-Channel Islands, Arizona State University, University of California, Los Angeles, University of South Florida, University of Illinois at Chicago, Western Michigan University, and the University of Louisville. Dr. Hart earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Southern Illinois University, a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from the University of Louisville, and a Doctor of Education in Higher and Postsecondary Education from Arizona State University.

RPA Inc. extends its congratulations to the University of Houston-Clear Lake and Joseph Staley on his appointment as the next Vice President for University Advancement. Staley served most recently at Johnson & Wales University where he held the position of Vice Chancellor for Resource Development. Before his work at JWU, he served a variety of institutions in his role as President/CEO at StaleyRobeson, a comprehensive fundraising consulting firm in Mystic, CT, and he began his career as Assistant Director of Annual Giving at the University of Pennsylvania. Staley is a Certified Fund Raising Executive and a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. He holds an MBA in Nonprofit Management from Johnson & Wales University and a Bachelor of Arts in History from St. Olaf College.

RPA Inc. extends its congratulations to Dr. John Nauright and Lock Haven University on his appointment as the next Dean of the Stephen Poorman College of Business, Information Systems, and Human Services. Dr. Nauright served most recently at the University of North Texas where he held the position of Department Chair and Lab Director. Dr. Nauright brings a broad international perspective to the Dean’s position. Prior to his time at UNT, he served as the Director of the Institute of Research and Graduate Studies in the School of Sport and Service Management at the University of Brighton in England. Additionally, Dr. Nauright previously served as a Professor at universities in the USA, Scotland, Australia, and New Zealand and held visiting or honorary professorships in Russia, Ghana, Barbados, and Denmark. He is also an Academic Affiliate of the Center for Responsible Travel in Washington, DC. A native of South Carolina, Dr. Nauright earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of South Carolina and a Ph.D. from Queen’s University in Canada.

RPA Inc. extends congratulations to Dr. Charles E. Patterson and Mansfield University on his appointment as the University’s next President. Dr. Patterson, currently serving as the Senior Advisor for Executive Outreach in the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid, was previously the Interim President of Georgia Southwestern State University. During his time at Georgia Southwestern, Dr. Patterson led efforts to stabilize and grow the university’s undergraduate and graduate enrollment, which resulted in a 10 percent increase in the size of the student body during his tenure. His previous institutions include Baylor University and Georgia Southern University, where he served as Vice President for Research & Economic Development and Dean of the College of Graduate Studies. Dr. Patterson has a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry from Mississippi State University. The full press release can be found at https://president.mansfield.edu/search.

RPA Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Joseph Fiochetta as the Vice President for University Advancement at Lock Haven University. Joe comes to Lock Haven with more than 25 years of service to the nonprofit and higher education community as an executive, consultant, and volunteer. Throughout his career, Joe has been involved in nearly every aspect of marketing, communications, alumni relations, and fundraising. His prior experience includes executive positions at leading agencies and nonprofits including Schultz & Williams, CDR Fundraising Group, Harte-Hanks, Marketing General Inc., American Red Cross, and Penn State. While at Penn State, Joe’s team orchestrated one of the largest sustained periods of revenue and alumni participation growth.

RPA Inc. extends congratulations to Dr. Chad Knights and Northern Virginia Community College on his appointment as NOVA’s first Provost of Information and Engineering Technologies. Prior to his new appointment, Dr. Knights served as NOVA’s Senior Academic Leadership Fellow, where he assisted in overseeing the development of the College’s new mechatronics, data center operations and cloud computing specialization degree programs. For a full announcement of the search completion and more information about Dr. Knights, please visit: http://www.nvcc.edu/news/press-releases/2018/knights-iet.html

RPA Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Sandra Caldwell as the next Executive Director of the Wyoming Community College Commission. Dr. Sandra Caldwell currently serves as the President at Reedley College in California, a position she has held since 2013. Prior to serving Reedley College, Dr. Caldwell was employed at Western Wyoming Community College, and, in her eight-year tenure, she moved from Associate Vice President for Student Learning to Associate Vice President for Planning and Improvement. Dr. Caldwell has also held appointments as the Quality Assurance/Institutional Effectiveness Chairperson for Program Assessment and Strategic Planning as well as Mathematics Coordinator for the Division of Math & Sciences at Paris Junior College in Paris, Texas. She has also served as an adjunct Instructor at Western Wyoming Community College and as a Mathematics Faculty member at Paris Junior College. Dr. Caldwell serves on the Executive Board for Rural Community College Alliance and on the CEO Board for the Community College League of California. Dr. Caldwell earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Education and Master of Science in Statistics from Oklahoma State University, as well as a Doctor of Education in Secondary & Higher Education-Supervision & Curriculum in Higher Education with an emphasis in Community Colleges from Texas A&M University-Commerce.

RPA Inc. extends congratulations to Robert Pignatello and Lock Haven University on his appointment as President. Mr. Pignatello has more than 20 years’ experience as a college senior executive and administrator. In the CUNY System, he has served as Hunter College’s senior vice president for finance and administration and chief operating officer since February 2016. As senior vice president and COO, Mr. Pignatello oversees the college’s financial planning and budget, business services, human resources, technology services, facilities, public safety, space planning and capital projects, performing arts facilities, continuing education and non-degree enrollment. Prior to his arrival at Hunter College, Mr. Pignatello spent 18 years as vice president and ultimately senior vice president and chief operating officer at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, also part of the CUNY system. For a full announcement of his appointment, visit www.lockhaven.edu/News/president_3.23.18.html

Howard University has appointed Dawn Williams, Ph.D. as Dean of the School of Education. Williams has served as the interim dean since June 2016 and has worked for the University since 2003. Dr. Williams earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and her master’s and doctoral degrees in Educational Policy Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. For a full announcement of her appointment, visit: https://newsroom.howard.edu/newsroom/article/8046/howard-university-appoints-dawn-williams-dean-school-education

Springfield College has announced Dr. James Harnsberger as the first Associate Vice President for Graduate Education, Grants, and Sponsored Research. Dr. Harnsberger will join the College from his current position at the University of New Haven, where he has overseen the launch of an international branch campus as Campus Dean. Dr. Harnsberger holds a PhD in Linguistics from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University. For a full announcement of the search completion and more information about Dr. Harnsberger, visit: https://springfield.edu/news/james-harnsberger-named-associate-vice-president-graduate-education-grants-and-sponsored

RPA Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Nicole Reaves as the next Provost of Northern Virginia Community College’s Medical Education Campus. Dr. Reaves currently serves as the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs at the City Colleges of Chicago—Wilbur Wright College in Chicago, Illinois, a position she has held since 2014. Prior to her service to Wilbur Wright College, Dr. Reaves was employed at Westmoreland County Community College (WCCC), and in her five-year tenure moved from Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs to Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Services. Dr. Reaves has also held appointments as the Executive Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness at Virginia Union University, Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator of Allied Health Professions at Shaw University, and as an Instructor at Wake Tech Community College, Public Health Educator at Franklin County Health Department in North Carolina. Dr. Reaves has earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Health and a Master of Arts in Education from East Carolina University, as well as a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration from North Carolina State University.

RPA Inc. extends best wishes to the University at Albany and Dr. David Holtgrave on his recent appointment as Dean, School of Public Health. Dr. Holtgrave comes to UAlbany from Johns Hopkins University where he currently serves as Endowed Professor and Founding Chair of the Department of Health, Behavior and Society at the Bloomberg School of Public Health. He has also held roles as Professor, Vice Chair, and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health and previously worked in the Centers for Disease Control’s Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention. Dr. Holtgrave earned his Ph.D. in Quantitative Psychology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and was a post-doctoral research fellow at Harvard University’s School of Public Health. He completed his undergraduate work at the University of Missouri at St. Louis.

RPA Inc. would like to congratulate Montana State University – Northern and Dr. R. Neil Moisey on his appointment as Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. Dr. Moisey recently served as the Core Curriculum Director for the $15 million HealthCare Montana, Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College Career Training IV grant at the University of Montana. While in that position, he oversaw the creation of common healthcare core curriculum for both administrative and clinical certificates and degrees with the 15-campus consortium. Previously, he served as the Deputy Commissioner for Academic Research and Student Affairs for the Montana University System, overseeing activities, planning, analysis, and accountability reporting for the Montana Board of Regents. Prior to that, Neil was Professor of Forestry at the University of Montana and had served as Program Coordinator, Chair of the Faculty Senate, and as the inaugural President’s Leadership Fellow.

The Shippensburg University Foundation has announced Carolyn Salazar as its next Director of Development. Carolyn brings ten years of fundraising experience and comes to the SU Foundation from Penn State’s Dickinson School of Law as Associate Director of Development. She previously served St. John’s University as Assistant Director for Institutional Advancement and as an adjunct English professor. Carolyn earned a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Iona College and a Master’s in School Counseling from St. John’s University; she is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in English from St. John’s University.

RPA Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Dennis Trinkle as the next Director for the Center of Information and Communication Sciences at Ball State University. Dr. Trinkle brings a background that combines leadership in higher education with a history of experience in industry and government. Prior to Ball State, Dr. Trinkle served as the Provost and Chief Academic Officer for Harrison College. He has also served as the Chief Executive Officer of IHETS and as Chief Information Officer for Valparaiso University. Trinkle is the author and editor of 16 books and more than 50 articles on technology, teaching and learning, history, and management. He received his Ph.D. and M.A. from the University of Cincinnati, his M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix, and his B.A. from DePauw University. We wish Dr. Trinkle and the Center for Information and Communication Sciences continued success!

Howard University has announced that Dr. Yolanda Pierce, of Princeton Theological Seminary, most recently serving as the Lilly Endowment Curator and Director of the Center for the Study of African American Religious Life at the Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History and Culture, will join the University as the next Dean of the School of Divinity. Dr. Pierce holds an A.B. in English and Religion from Princeton University and Masters degrees in English and Africana Studies and a Ph.D. in Religion and Literature from Cornell University. For a full announcement of her appointment, visit: https://newsroom.howard.edu/newsroom/article/7386/rev-dr-yolanda-pierce-named-dean-howard-university-school-divinity.

Keystone College has announced Dr. Tracy Brundage as the next Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Dr. Brundage will join the College from her current position as Vice President for Workforce Development at Pennsylvania College of Technology. Dr. Brundage holds a Ph.D. in Workforce Education and a Master’s in Education from Penn State and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Gettysburg College.

RPA Inc. is pleased to announce that Dr. Tony Munroe has been appointed President of Essex County College. Dr. Munroe previously served in the City Colleges of Chicago, the largest community college system in Illinois, as the President of Malcolm X College, and has held senior leadership positions in health care institutions. Please click here for a full announcement.

RPA Inc. is pleased to announce that Laurie A. Carter has been appointed as the next President at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Carter joins Shippensburg from her current position as Executive Vice President for Student Success and University Counsel at Eastern Kentucky University. For a full announcement please visit: http://www.ship.edu/2017_Presidential_Search/

RPA Inc. extends best wishes to SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and Nosa Egiebor on his appointment as Provost and Executive Vice President. Dr. Egiebor brings over 32 years of experience and comes to the College from the University of Mississippi. He previously held various positions with Tuskegee University, Florida Gulf Coast University, and University of Alberta. For the full announcement, visit http://www.esf.edu/communications/view.asp?newsID=5858

SUNY Empire State College has announced Dr. David Bejou as the next Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. Dr. Bejou will join the College from his current position of Dean of the College of Business and Social Sciences at West Virginia State University. Dr. Bejou holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of Memphis, an MBA in Aviation from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics from the College of Literature and Foreign Languages in Iran. For a full announcement of the search closure and more information about Dr. Bejou, visit: https://www.esc.edu/news/releases/2017/david-bejou-appointed-provost-and-executive-vice-president-for-academic-affairs.html

RPA Inc. extends congratulations to Charity Wittner, who has been appointed Vice President for Enrollment Services. Mrs. Wittner has served as the Director of Enrollment Services at the University of Mobile since 2010, and prior to that, she held a number of other positions at the University, including Assistant Director of Financial Aid, Financial Aid Counselor, and Admissions Counselor. Mrs. Wittner has dedicated her career to helping students prepare for and succeed in higher education. We wish her and the University great success in their ongoing partnership.

Janet Garrity graduated from Immaculata with a degree in economics followed by an MBA from Villanova University. She has served on the Board of Trustees since 2014, and most recently as the Chair of the Finance and Property Committee. In this position, Ms. Garrity has spent time on the Board Task Force, working with the Administration and members of the Business Office. She possesses an outstanding background in corporate finance, having served in roles at Bell Telephone, Bell Atlantic, and eventually Verizon. Ms. Garrity retired in 2013 as Verizon’s Vice President, Finance and Cash Operations, a position she held since 2000.

RPA Inc. is pleased to announce that Springfield College has engaged as its new Dean, Dr. Brooke Hallowell, who is the founding Executive Director of the Collaborative on Aging, and Coordinator of Graduate and Undergraduate Gerontology Certificate Programs at Ohio University. Dr. Hallowell also serves as Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Director of the Neurolinguistics Laboratory, Adjunct Professor of Family Medicine, Adjunct Professor of Biomedical Engineering, and Professor of Asian Studies at Ohio University. She previously served as Associate Dean for Research and Sponsored Programs in Ohio University’s College of Health and Human Services, and as Director of the School of Hearing, Speech and Language Sciences. She was the founding Co-Director of the Ohio University Global Health Initiative, founding Coordinator of the Ohio University Diabetes Research Initiative, and founding co-director of the Ohio University Appalachian Rural Health Institute. Professor Hallowell earned her Ph.D. in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from the University of Iowa, M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from Lamar University, Certificat d’Etudes Supérieures from the Conservatoire National de France, and A.B. (Magna Cum Laude) from Brown University.

RPA Inc. extends congratulations to Dr. Amy McCormack, who has been appointed President of Calumet College of St. Joseph in Whiting, Indiana. Dr. McCormack currently serves as the Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration at Dominican University, a Catholic, Hispanic-serving Institution in River Forest, Illinois. In this capacity, she manages the University’s budget and endowment, and she also oversees facilities, security, risk management, human resources, and auxiliary operations. She is a key member of Dominican University’s strategic planning committee and has also chaired the University’s master planning process and the enrollment resources task force. In addition to her administrative work, she has also taught accounting and auditing courses at Dominican University. Dr. McCormack was a Fulbright Scholar in 2015 and serves on the Development Board for the Comer Children’s Hospital and the Board of Directors for the Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park. RPA Inc. wishes Dr. McCormack and Calumet College of St. Joseph great success in their new partnership.

Thomas Nelson Community College has appointed Dr. Susan English as its next Vice President for Academic Affairs. Dr. English currently serves as the Interim Division Chair of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics at Guilford Technical Community College, a position she has held since 2014. Dr. English also serves Guilford as its Director of Instructional Support & Special Projects. RPA Inc. wishes Dr. English and Thomas Nelson Community College great success in their new partnership.

RPA Inc. extends congratulations to Dr. Molly Lynch, who has been appointed Provost of the Manassas Campus at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA). Dr. Lynch has dedicated her career to higher education through teaching and leadership. She has served NOVA in multiple roles since 2003 and brings a wealth of knowledge about the Manassas Campus and NOVA as a whole.

RPA Inc. extends congratulations and best wishes to Empire State College and Andrea Hennessy on her appointment as Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing. Andrea brings 19 years of higher education experience in both enrollment management and academics. She served as Managing Partner and Consultant with Peak Enrollment Consulting and previously held various positions with Nyack College including Vice President of Enrollment & Marketing and Assistant Vice President & Dean of Adult Programs.

Congratulations to Thomas Nelson Community College on securing Seyed Akhavi as the next Dean of Science, Engineering and Technology. Mr. Akhavi has worked in higher education for nearly 30 years and currently serves as the Dean of the Center for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics at Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, New York.

Best wishes and congratulations toDr. Diane Walleser on being named as BMCC’s first Vice President for Enrollment Management. Dr. Walleser brings over 14 years of progressive higher education experience in large comprehensive community colleges and holds an Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership from Edgewood College in Wisconsin. Most recently, she served as the Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Services at Columbus State Community College.

Delaware Valley University has appointed Jennifer Sauer as the next Vice President for Finance and Administration! Ms. Sauer brings 30 years of experience from her work at Immaculata University and the University of Richmond.

Congratulations to Anthony DeMarco and Alvernia University on his appointment as its next Vice President for Advancement! Mr. DeMarco is returning to advancement after five successful years in Minor League Baseball as Vice President for the Lancaster Barnstormers.

RPA Inc. extends congratulations and best wishes to Dr. Martha Potvin and Springfield College on her recent appointment as Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs! Dr. Potvin has been a leader in academic administration for more than 15 years and is an experienced teacher as well as a prolific writer.

RPA Inc. is happy to announce that Dr. Pamela Tipton Hilbert has been appointed as the next Provost of Northern Virginia Community College’s Annandale Campus. She comes to NOVA from Robeson Community College in Lumberton, North Carolina, where she has served for the last three years as President.

The Board of Governors for Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education has approved the appointment of Ms. Geraldine Jones as the seventh President of California University. To learn more about Ms. Jones, please visit: Learn More

Congratulations to Briar Cliff University on securing Dr. Hamid Shirvani as the University’s 10th President. Dr. Shirvani previously served as a senior fellow with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and brings 37 years of experience in higher education.

RPA Inc. extends congratulations and best wishes to Dr. Michael R. Laliberte and SUNY Delhi on his recent appointment as President! Dr. Laliberte brings more than 20 years of higher education experience and ten years as a senior administrator to his new role and Delhi’s chief executive.

RPA Inc. would like to extend best wishes to Dr. Hara Charlier on becoming the new President of Central Lakes College! Dr. Charlier comes to CLC from Virginia Highlands Community College, where she has served as Vice President of Instruction and Student Services.

Congratulations to Eric Bruntmyer and Hardin Simmons University on his appointment as its next President! Previously, Mr. Bruntmyer served as the Vice President for Financial Affairs at Dallas Baptist University.

RPA Inc. is pleased to announce that Dr. Maria Gallo will become DelVal’s 13th President! Maria currently serves as the Dean of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at the University of Hawa’I at Manoa.

We are excited to congratulate Borough of Manhattan Community College on appointing Dr. Christopher Shults as the new Dean for Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Planning. Dr. Shults brings a wealth of experience to BMCC including his former position as Executive Director for Planning and Institutional Effectiveness at Suffolk County Community College.

Warmest congratulations to Northern Virginia Community College on securing Steven Partridge as the new Vice President for Workforce Development. Mr. Partridge brings a track record of creating successful partnerships, including is current work as President and CEO of Charlotte Works in North Carolina.

RPA Inc. is excited to announce that Kelly Dowling will become the first Assistant Dean for Advancement in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Stony Brook University! Ms. Dowling comes to Stony Brook with a strong development background, and currently serves as the Senior Director of Development for the College of Business Administration at the University of Central Florida Foundation, Inc.

Congratulations to Dr. John Eisler and Springfield College on his appointment as the new Dean of the School of Professional and Continuing Studies! Dr. Eisler joins the team at Springfield with extensive experience in the development and management of academic programs.

RPA Inc. is happy to announce that Elise Durham has been appointed as the new Assistant Vice President for Communications, Media Relations and Marketing and Florida A&M University. A FAMU graduate, Elise comes to the University from Morehouse College where she served as Media Relations Manager.

RPA Inc. is one of the preeminent executive recruitment and consulting firms for higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations. Founded in 1988, RPA Inc. was formed to empower institutions and organizations working for the greater good to obtain the personnel and resources necessary to achieve their goals.